Can Sushi be Sushi without the fish? Most Certainly !

The only instance a Delhiite would feel stressed about being a Delhiite is when the Sushi craving strikes. Amidst heavy thoughts of locating a Sushi bar, the expense considerations and the gastronomical enemy “traffic”, the craving goes kaput. Not to forget that although it is healthful, succulent and simply beautiful, Japanese food in general is not “the thing” for vegetarians like me, not until recently when I took it upon myself as a challenge to come up with a Veg Sushi version. So, can sushi be sushi without the fish? Well I certainly think so.

This recipe is extremely customized to fit my Delhi taste buds. Like they say “You can take a Delhiite out of Delhi but not Delhi out of a Delhiite”

So here’s what I used:-

1 Sushi Nori Sheet (The Japanese Sea vegetable toasted and ready to use)

1 cup cooked Sushi rice (well any rice cooked with more water than needed to make it sticky)

1/2 cucumber (cut into thick juliennes)

3-4 Mushroom peeled and sliced

1/4 red capsicum juliennes

Any Stir frying Oil

Sushi Mat or tin foil for rolling sushi

For seasoning the rice :-

1 tbsp. Organic Rice Vinegar

Pepper powder, Salt, Garlic powder and Basil to taste

** I have also used a special homemade Cranberry Chutney on my sushi which is completely optional.

To cook rice soft and sticky, I added 3 portions of water to 1 portion of rice and cooked it in the microwave for 15 min. Once the rice is cooked and cooled to room temperature, season the rice with Organic Rice vinegar, pepper, salt, basil and Garlic Powder using cutting and folding movements with a Spoon.

Heat 1 tbsp. oil and stir-fry the mushrooms, cucumber and capsicum juliennes till they are slightly burnt. Do not add any salt yet else the veggies will ooze out water. Veggies should be seasoned with salt only after being removed from heat.

Now place the Nori Sheet on the Sushi Mat (or the Tin foil inside parchment papers as I did) the shiny side down. Spread the rice on the Nori leaving 2 cm clear at the top, wet your fingers a bit to spread the rice evenly.

Spread the cranberry chutney (or any other chutney as per your liking or omit if you wish) and lay on the fillings.

Begin Rolling the mat (or the Foil) from the near edge, roll firmly but do not press so hard that the rice comes out of the sides.

Once the rolls are formed, squeeze them gently but firmly whilst pulling on the far end of the mat to tighten. The moisture from the rice will stick the Nori Sheet together

Remove the roll from the mat and let it rest for a couple of minutes. Now Cut into 1 inch pieces with a wet knife using a steady sawing motion. Arrange on a plate with Sweet soy sauce like i did, or any soy sauce coupled with Wasabi and Ginger Pickle.

Experimenting with your sushi is the key; you can add roasted sesame seeds to your rice, roasted chicken or steamed fish (like i do for my non vegetarian husband) or add tofu/pickled soya chunks for more fun.

There is just one rule for making sushi that there is no rule 🙂

Sayōnara!!!!

Written by Deepti Kharbanda

PS (by Shashank) – Friends, would appreciate if you can share info on where we can get all the material used in this recipe in Delhi.PS (by Deepti) – Yamato Ya in Safdarjang enclave, close to the CCD, has all the stuff one needs for sushi.. check out the sushi corner for Nori sheets, rice sheets, thick/sweet soy sauce, rice venagar and I think even Wasabi…

Sushi Nori sheets are available at Needs Supermart in Gurgaon and it shud be available at INA, A-MArt- Mahipalpur and BG Mart Green Park. the other ingredients are easily available at INA or any good vegetable shop, again Korean rice or sticky rice is available at INA, the mats for making Sushi rolls u may try at A-MArt or INA..not sure about that 🙂

From what I understand sushi actually refers to the rice and not the raw fish. There is a very exact way of preparing the rice that makes it sushi. There are several kinds of vegetable sushi in Japan. Yours looks awesome and delicious by the way.

+1 to what Jim said. Sushi refers to "sour-tasting" and in this case is a vinegerated Rice. With fish has been the Japanese way of making it and not the actuall part of sushi but more of traditional aspect of it.

Nice ost indeed Deepti. Have seen live Sushi making a couple if times including the Sushi chain called- Sushiya and it's awesome watching someone make that !